OF SCHOOL FUNDING IN NEARLY TWO DECADES. THE STATE’S $46.7 BILLION PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES MONEY FOR SOME OF THE KIRWAN COMMISSION EDUCATION RECOMMENDATIONS. >> IT HAS, AS I MENTIONED THE OTHER DAY, $320 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF OUR TEACHERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE. AND WE PROVIDE $500 MILLION IN SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION. DAVID: THERE ARE FUNDS FOR ALL DAY PRE-K FOR 4-YEAR-OLDS AND IT COMMITS TO MAKING 3-YEAR-OLDS PART OF THE STATE’S PRE-K SYSTEM. THERE ARE FUNDS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, RAISING TEACHERS SALARIES, GRANTS FOR SCHOOLS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF POVERTY, AND FUNDING FOR MORE SERVICES FOR STRUGGLING LEARNERS. IT REQUIRES FUNDING THAT HASN’T YET BEEN IDENTIFIED. PAYING FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS STARTING IN 2029 WILL COST $3.8 BILLION A YEAR. THERE’S NO FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT EITHER. HOUSE REPUBLICANS WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME FROM. >> I AM NOT GOING TO SUPPORT TAX INCREASES. WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION FOR EVERY STUDENT. DAVID: AND BALTIMORE COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOHNNY OLZEWSKI JOINED A PACKED HEARING ROOM IN SUPPORT OF A BILL THAT CREATES A NEW STATE EDUCATION POLICY BASED ON THE KIRWAN RECOMMENDATIONS. >> WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE, HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR INDIVIDUALS’ SUCCESS IN LIFE, BUT ALSO IN BUILDING A WORKFORCE THAT CAN MAKE MARYLAND’S ECONOMY SUCCESSFUL. DAVID: THE KIRWAN COMMISSION’S WORK IS NOT OVER. DURING THE SUMMER THE PANEL WILL ADDRESS HOW MUCH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS WILL HAVE TO PAY AS WELL AS COME UP WITH LONG TERM FUNDING SOURCES

The House of Delegates gave preliminary approval Wednesday to the state's $46.7 billion budget, which Democrats view as the education budget. The spending plan includes money to begin paying for education recommendations from the Kirwan Commission."We all recognize, in this day and age, high-quality education (and) skills development is essential for individuals' success in life, but also in building a workforce that can make Maryland's economy successful," said Brit Kirwan, chairman of the Kirwan Commission.The spending plan includes $320 million to support some of the Kirwan recommendations, which include funds for all-day pre-K for 4-year-olds and a commitment to making 3-year-olds part of the state's pre-K system. The plan would also fund special education, raise teacher salaries, provide grants for schools with high concentrations of poverty, provide more services for struggling learners and invest $500 million for school construction."The budget before you is balanced. That is great for Maryland's children. It has $320 million in support of our teachers and young people," House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Maggie McIntosh said.House Republicans are concerned about budget cuts to personnel who hold schools accountable. They are also disappointed over cuts to a fund that helps charter schools."This money was for air conditioning, heating, you know, improvements that are needed in some of these public charter schools, especially in Baltimore City," House Minority Whip Kathy Szeliga said.Additional education funding is a priority for the Democratic-controlled State House. Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, supports increasing education funding but wants additional dollars tied to school accountability measures.The commitment requires $750 million in fiscal year 2021. A funding source has not yet been identified. Paying for all the Kirwan recommendations starting in 2029 will cost $3.8 billion a year, and there's no funding source for that either.House Republicans want to know where the money will come from."It's a real concern. I'm not in favor of any tax increases," Szeliga said.Just after the House vote, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski joined a packed hearing room in support of a bill that creates a new state education policy based on the Kirwan recommendations.The Kirwan Commission's work is not over. During the summer, the panel will address how much local jurisdictions will have to pay, as well as come up with long-term funding sources.Gov. Larry Hogan's office released a statement Thursday, saying: "In January, we introduced a thoughtful and common sense budget that highlights our administration's commitments, including our top priority -- education. We funded important initiatives that would provide our students with safe classrooms that encourage growth and learning; however, it seems some members of the House do not share that same commitment."The egregious cuts outlined in the budget that passed today -- including over $16 million in cuts to funding that would enhance school safety, increase accountability, and provide better opportunities for our kids -- are the height of hypocrisy and a disservice to our students, teachers, and parents. These cuts include: The Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line, which is critical to keeping our classrooms safe; the Office of Education Accountability, which is providing transparency and exposing wrongdoing in local school systems; funding for underserved children to attend innovative public charter schools; the bipartisan BOOST program; and our proposal to expand the Promise Scholarship program to allow qualifying students to get a college education."While numerous legislators have supported these innovative proposals in the past, they have opted to now put them on the chopping block -- all to score political points. Our kids deserve better, and we will continue to advocate for greater accountability in our schools to ensure that funding goes where it belongs -- in the classroom with teachers and students."Additionally, despite the tremendous progress our administration has made in growing Maryland's economy, the House has proposed $11 million in cuts to important job creation initiatives and workforce development programs, which will adversely impact Maryland's hard-working citizens. The House also announced a $6 million cut to our administration's SmartWork Program, which assists in the recruitment and retention of state employees working in high-demand fields, including correctional officers and nurses, by helping repay their student loans. This cut will severely limit the number of Marylanders who can benefit from this initiative."Despite these setbacks, during the remaining weeks of session, our administration remains committed to working with both the House and Senate leadership in a bipartisan fashion to achieve real results for the people of Maryland."

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —

The House of Delegates gave preliminary approval Wednesday to the state's $46.7 billion budget, which Democrats view as the education budget.

"We all recognize, in this day and age, high-quality education (and) skills development is essential for individuals' success in life, but also in building a workforce that can make Maryland's economy successful," said Brit Kirwan, chairman of the Kirwan Commission.

The spending plan includes $320 million to support some of the Kirwan recommendations, which include funds for all-day pre-K for 4-year-olds and a commitment to making 3-year-olds part of the state's pre-K system. The plan would also fund special education, raise teacher salaries, provide grants for schools with high concentrations of poverty, provide more services for struggling learners and invest $500 million for school construction.

"The budget before you is balanced. That is great for Maryland's children. It has $320 million in support of our teachers and young people," House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Maggie McIntosh said.

House Republicans are concerned about budget cuts to personnel who hold schools accountable. They are also disappointed over cuts to a fund that helps charter schools.

"This money was for air conditioning, heating, you know, improvements that are needed in some of these public charter schools, especially in Baltimore City," House Minority Whip Kathy Szeliga said.

The commitment requires $750 million in fiscal year 2021. A funding source has not yet been identified. Paying for all the Kirwan recommendations starting in 2029 will cost $3.8 billion a year, and there's no funding source for that either.

House Republicans want to know where the money will come from.

"It's a real concern. I'm not in favor of any tax increases," Szeliga said.

Just after the House vote, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski joined a packed hearing room in support of a bill that creates a new state education policy based on the Kirwan recommendations.

The Kirwan Commission's work is not over. During the summer, the panel will address how much local jurisdictions will have to pay, as well as come up with long-term funding sources.

Gov Hogan sent a letter to presiding officers expressing his deep concerns “the legislature is preparing to mandate billions of dollars in new education spending without putting in place any real education accountability measures”

Gov. Larry Hogan's office released a statement Thursday, saying: "In January, we introduced a thoughtful and common sense budget that highlights our administration's commitments, including our top priority -- education. We funded important initiatives that would provide our students with safe classrooms that encourage growth and learning; however, it seems some members of the House do not share that same commitment.

"The egregious cuts outlined in the budget that passed today -- including over $16 million in cuts to funding that would enhance school safety, increase accountability, and provide better opportunities for our kids -- are the height of hypocrisy and a disservice to our students, teachers, and parents. These cuts include: The Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line, which is critical to keeping our classrooms safe; the Office of Education Accountability, which is providing transparency and exposing wrongdoing in local school systems; funding for underserved children to attend innovative public charter schools; the bipartisan BOOST program; and our proposal to expand the Promise Scholarship program to allow qualifying students to get a college education.

"While numerous legislators have supported these innovative proposals in the past, they have opted to now put them on the chopping block -- all to score political points. Our kids deserve better, and we will continue to advocate for greater accountability in our schools to ensure that funding goes where it belongs -- in the classroom with teachers and students.

"Additionally, despite the tremendous progress our administration has made in growing Maryland's economy, the House has proposed $11 million in cuts to important job creation initiatives and workforce development programs, which will adversely impact Maryland's hard-working citizens. The House also announced a $6 million cut to our administration's SmartWork Program, which assists in the recruitment and retention of state employees working in high-demand fields, including correctional officers and nurses, by helping repay their student loans. This cut will severely limit the number of Marylanders who can benefit from this initiative.

"Despite these setbacks, during the remaining weeks of session, our administration remains committed to working with both the House and Senate leadership in a bipartisan fashion to achieve real results for the people of Maryland."

Mayor Pugh is among those planning to testify in favor of legislation to implement the Kirwan Commission Education recommendations. pic.twitter.com/wVGCiHt857